Grape Republic - Rosato - Yamagata, Japan - 2020

🍇 : Steuben, Delaware, Niagara, Rosario Bianco (47%,25%, 19%, 9%) 

Farming: Organic 

Region: Yamagata Prefecture, Japan

Notes: The region is mostly between 200-450m above sea level, surrounded on three sides by mountains, far enough from the ocean to be considered a continental climate. These factors lead to massive diurnal swings, a variable that helps grapes retain their acidity. The soils drain well and are often comprised of granite and schist. 

This wine is a must try for any wine lover, it is unique and delicious. The wine is dominated by grape notes particularly similar to grape juice. The rose is beautifully juicy, with crunchy acidity and crushable ease. The palette is very complex with a long length. 

 750mls / ABV 10.5 

More on the Grapes:

Grape Republic works with many hybrid grapes, which are grapes that are hybrids made from crossings Visit Vinifera and other grapes in the Vitis family such as indigenous grapes to the Americas like Vitis Labrusca 💗

Steuben: This hybrid of Vitis Vinifera and Vitis Labrusca was first created in 1925 at Cornell in New York but didn’t make its commercial debut until the 1940s. The vine is incredibly productive and overcropping (dilute grapes) can be problematic if yields aren’t controlled. It is resistant to most vineyard blights like mildew and has extreme cold-hardiness (-29ºC).

Niagara: This Concord offspring was bred in 1866 in western New York. It displays the often overstated ‘foxy’ characteristic typical of American hybrids. The berries grow in large bunches where their thin skins make them particularly susceptible to rot and mildew. The vines are somewhat resistant to cold, but it’s a wonder this variety has been so prolific.

Delaware: The origins of this variety are shrouded in mystery, but the most told story traces its roots back to a Swiss immigrant fleeing persecution in Europe, smuggling grape vines from Burgundy, and crossing them with local varieties in Frenchtown in Delaware County, Ohio. Until it undergoes DNA profiling, we can only guess. This finicky variety has small pink berries that ripen early. Unlike many of its hybrid brethren, it has low yields, low foxiness, and is susceptible to phylloxera